Best Time to Visit Cancun
If you are planning you Cancun vacation, then you must be wondering what the best time to visit Cancun actually is. Well, you’re not alone. In this article, we will share the best months and the ones to avoid. Keep on reading to find the ideal time to visit Cancun for your kind of holiday.
Cancun is famous for its magnificent white sandy beaches, big resorts, world-famous party and nightlife culture. Cancun also has some hidden gems in store for the savvy traveler. These gems can be found in Cancun’s beautiful plazas, many lively festivals, mysterious cenotes, gorgeous National Parks and stunning Maya ruins.
This is a detailed guide on the best times to visit Cancun, season by season and month by month.
February, May, and November are for us the best times to visit Cancun if your priority is to spend relaxing days on the beach and not have to worry about rain or the scorching summer heat.
.
.
Humidity remains high in Cancun throughout the year, but during these months, it is not as severe as during summer. This way, you can go outside and enjoy the amazing outdoors and activities that the area has to offer without worrying about the heat.
Expert Tip: November and the first half of December are the absolute best time and months to visit Cancun. You can enjoy blue skies and fantastic weather while avoiding the big tourist hoards and the salty resort accommodation and flight prices.
High season in Cancun is from December all the way to April. It’s also the best time for beautiful weather and nonstop partying. Sunny skies, warm days, and a famous party scene draw planeloads of beach-lovers, partygoers and spring break crowds to the city, especially around Christmas, New Year’s, and during Spring Break. So plan ahead for your accommodation and flights and expect to pay a premium during these holidays.
The good weather is also excellent for sightseeing and snorkeling. Kiteboarders will definitely enjoy the strong and constant winds on the neighboring paradise Island of Isla Blanca.
Spring Break and Easter are by far the most popular times to visit Cancun. Be ready for higher prices, big crowds and lines forming outside of every nightclub, bar, and restaurant.
May to June and September to November is Low season in Cancun. Low season months are also some of the best times to visit Cancun (especially if you are on a budget). Expect hot temperatures and a few rain showers (short but sometimes intense) during the day.
You can therefore find deals on hotels, excursions, and even cover costs. The sun will still shine for most of the days you will spend in Cancun, but keep an eye on the weather report for tropical storms for the later part of the day. Tropical storms can bring heavy rain, high seas, and sometimes even halt the nightlife. Beautiful weather returns in November, but the good news is that prices remain low.
Shoulder season for Cancun are the months of July and August. This is also an ideal time for snorkeling, seeing the nearby coral reefs, swimming with whale sharks and seeing sea turtles hatchlings make their maiden excursion to the sea in the Parque Nacional Isla Contoy. Mexican partygoers also mark their calendars as the nightlife is especially lively and active. Short rain showers are to be expected, yet the sun always shines through. Balmy evenings are also ideal for a nice cool Mexican beer, bar hopping and partying till the early morning hours. Prices fall somewhat from peak season, but not by much.
Hurricane season in Cancun is June to October. Bur it is not as bad as this sounds as hurricanes are not common in Cancun. Expect a few heavy storms, as it does rain a lot more these months, especially during the day.
October is usually the worst month to visit Cancun. Weather will still be very pleasant and warm for most of your day, but with the hurricane season at its peak, you should expect heavier rain showers, especially during the day.
Cancun’s dry season lasts from December to April. It is also peak season and the best time to visit Cancun, with typical temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the low-80s Fahrenheit (25-30 Celsius).
However, this is also the busiest time of year, so if you want to avoid crowds, visit Cancun during the wet (rainy) season.
Cancun’s rainy season lasts from May to November. The temperatures continue to remain pleasant, but there will be more rain and the danger of hurricanes. If you want to escape the crowds (who doesn’t?) and are okay with periodic showers and sprinkles of rain throughout the day, or if you are on a budget and want to save money on flights and hotels, then rainy summer season might be the right season for you.
Here’s a glance at what to expect in Cancun each month of the year (although event days and festivals are always subject to change).
Average Temperature: 60 – 80°F
Cancun is still packed with vacationers from the last of the Christmas-related festivities. As a result, peak-season pricing will remain in effect until the middle of the month. Expect great beach weather, warm days, mild evenings, crowds, and expensive pricing for accommodation and flights.
Key Events for January: Día de Los Reyes Magos (Epiphany)
Temperature: 63 – 85°F
The lovely weather continues, but Cancun is slowing down. Crowds thin out until the Carnaval, when parades, outrageous costumes, street parties, and live music take over downtown, including Parque de las Palapas.
Key Events for February: Carnaval
Temperature: 65 – 88°F
Spring breakers descend on Cancun each March, and the frenzy beggings with enormous beach parties, top-name Djs, and crowded nightclubs. The month-long celebration of Inception Fest throws gasoline to the party fire. Accommodation prices rise as the weather warms.
Key Events for March: Spring Break and Inception Fest (music festival)
.
.
Temperature: 66 – 91°F
Spring breakers are still arriving. During Semana Santa (Holy Week), when Mexicans customarily go to the beach, hotel prices remain high. The temperature is steadily rising. Expect overbooked hotels and price increases.
Key Events for April: Easter and The Holy Week
Temperature: 69 – 92°F
The temperature soars into the 90s, as does the humidity. It’s low season, so tourism slows, fewer crowds and hotel prices fall, but Cancun’s colorful and loud party scene continues. Nesting sea turtles begin to arrive on Isla Contoy’s beaches as this is their breeding season.
Key Events for May: Cinco de Mayo, Cancun Jumpoff, Cancun Wine and Food Festival, Challenge Cancun Triathlon
Temperature: 70 – 92°F
The hurricane season has officially begun. Expect hot, humid days with a chance of rain. Pride Cancun delivers a weekend of rainbow-themed beach parties, nightclub activities, and alcohol cruises. Fewer crowds, as tourist numbers and hotel costs remain low.
Key Events for June: Cinco de Mayo, Cancun Pride
Temperature: 72 – 91°F
July is a scorcher, and it signals the start of the Mexican summer months vacation. The city is once again crowded, and accommodation prices rise. It’s also whale shark season, which runs from May to September. Diving companies offer whale shark snorkeling cruises near Isla Contoy.
Key Events for July: Festival de Los Océanos and Destination X
Temperature: 73 – 94°F
August is one of the warmest months in Cancun. Rainfall also is becoming a lot more often. Mexican tourists continue to visit; thus, costs remain stable. The first sea turtle hatchlings leave their nests on Isla Contoy for the ocean.
Key Events for August: Not much. It’s just too hot and humid outside.
Temperature: 70 – 89°F
It’s hurricane season, which means rainy days, fewer visitors, and loads of deals. Mexican Independence Day is celebrated at Parque de las Palapas in mid-September. El Grito, the traditional freedom cry, may be heard nearby at the city hall.
Key Events for September: Mexican Independence Day
Temperature: 68 – 88°F
Heavy rains persist and get more intense in October, although the sun usually shines every day. During Cancn’s quiet season, various tour companies and restaurants shut down for the month, and the beaches remain blissfully vacant. The Zona Hotelera celebrates Halloween with alcohol-fueled costume parties. The sea turtles season is coming to an end.
Key Events for October: Cancun Jazz Festival and Halloween
Average Temperature: 66 – 85°F
The month of November gives a nice break from the heat and rain. Day of the Dead events in downtown Cancun and theme parties in the Zona Hotelera begin things off. The month’s celebrations are rounded off with music and cultural activities. Tourist numbers and hotel prices remain low.
Key Events for November: Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Dia de Los Innocentes, Caribe Culture Festival, and Cancun’s International Music Festival
Average Temperature: 63 – 84°F
Hurricane season has passed, and it’s great beach weather except for a few brief storms. Deals are available until mid-December, when holiday tourists begin to arrive, filling up hotels and pushing prices sky-high.
Key Events for December: Feast of the Virgen de Guadalupe, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the Cancun Rock’ n’ Roll Marathon
The best time to visit Cancun depends on your interests and the activities you want to enjoy during your stay. Cancun has a tropical climate; thus, it is hot and humid all year, so you can’t go wrong visiting Cancun any time of the year (ok…maybe try to avoid October).
September is the best time to visit Cancun for the best pricing and deals. The less-than-ideal September weather brings less travelers and the cheapest hotel and accommodation prices.
January is also the cheapest month to fly from the United States.
Many visitors use Cancun as a base for day tours across the Yucatan Peninsula. We suggest staying at least 5-7 days to take in all this area has to offer.
As appealing as it may seem to spend the whole day enjoying the amenities of an all-inclusive resort, you will be missing out on a lot as the neighborhood has to offer many diverse and intriguing cultural and recreational activities. Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, and other popular destinations are very accessible from Cancun (1-2 hour drive).
Unfortunately, Sargassum or seaweed has been a problem for Cancun and nearby beaches for the last many years. The season for sargassum seaweed in Cancun and Mexico usually lasts from June to October each year. Having said that, many of Cancun’s major resorts actually do a really good job of cleaning their beachfront daily to ensure that it is still pleasant for tourists.
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
© SmartXpat All Rights Reserved 2022
